1. Dealing Biblically With The Past FALL 2014

2. RESOURCE FOR CHANGE

3. TWO EXTREMES TO AVOID 1.The Past is Nothing 2.The Past is Everything

4. THE PAST: ONE OF YOUR BEST FRIENDS 1.When you need strength and confidence 1 Samuel 17:34-37 But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God." And David said, "The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you!"

5. THE PAST: ONE OF YOUR BEST FRIENDS 1.When you need strength and confidence 2.When you need encouragement and balance Job 1:21-22 And he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. Job 2:10b "Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?"

6. THE PAST: ONE OF YOUR BEST FRIENDS 1.When you need strength and confidence 2.When you need encouragement and balance 3.When you need the ability to forgive Matthew 18:33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?

7. THE PAST: ONE OF YOUR BEST FRIENDS 1.When you need strength and confidence 2.When you need encouragement and balance 3.When you need the ability to forgive 4.When you are struggling with pride Deuteronomy 9:7 Remember and do not forget how you provoked the LORD your God to wrath in the wilderness. From the day you came out of the land of Egypt until you came to this place, you have been rebellious against the LORD.

8. THE PAST: ONE OF YOUR BEST FRIENDS 1.When you need strength and confidence 2.When you need encouragement and balance 3.When you need the ability to forgive 4.When you are struggling with pride 5.When it is time to repent Revelation 2:5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

9. SO HOW DO WE DEAL WITH THE PAST? 1.Rejoice in the ways God has blessed you 2.Be humbled by the times you have failed 3.Marvel at the sweet forgiveness of God 4.Do not let the pain of the past hinder the good you can do in the present

10. PERSONAL REFLECTION 1.Consider a trial you are currently facing. How would a person who remembers blessings from the past handle a trial as compared to a person who does not? 2.Describe several challenging events where God gave you the strength and wisdom you needed to serve and please him even when it was hard. Look for an opportunity this week to consciously view a current challenge through the lens of a past success.